Gut Health: Five Habits That Are Bad For Your Gut

Suddenly you are plagued by severe cramps or an oppressive feeling of fullness – it is a sign that the intestine cannot carry out its actual function. These five habits can be the reason.

The body is a complex organism that reacts to external factors, including digestion in the intestines.

Suddenly you are plagued by terrible pain, a feeling of fullness or gas. Often one immediately thinks of a severe illness, but mostly it is unconscious everyday situations that upset the intestine.

Excessive stress often directs priorities to areas other than the intestine and thus presents it with significant challenges.

However, a lack of exercise or excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages can also trigger problems in the intestinal area. 

No Time To Chew

Either the lunch break is too short, or the appetite is too big – often, you don’t take enough time to really enjoy a meal and instead gobble it down.

The chewing mechanism is also neglected, although you should chew at least 30 times. This condition represents a high burden for the intestine since the food reaches the intestine into large pieces – a mammoth task for the organ.

The result can be symptoms such as cramps or flatulence – this situation can easily be avoided.

Conscious chewing ensures that the food reaches the intestine in smaller pieces and that digestion takes place in the mouth.

Saliva contains special digestive enzymes that begin digestion when you chew – for example, the enzyme amylase ensures that sugar molecules are broken down in the mouth. 

Restricted Bowel Movement Due To Stress

The chewing behavior is often linked to everyday stress – and this stress hurts the intestinal function and the entire body.

Even if short-term stress promotes the performance of the body and brain, it ensures reduced activity in the intestines. The body pours out more adrenaline in stressful situations as it reacts with a fear and escape mechanism.

Since the body now uses its energy exclusively for the production of adrenaline, the digestive tract is of secondary importance. 

If a stressful situation lasts longer, symptoms such as gas, bloating, cramps or nausea can occur in the stomach and intestines.

If the intestine repeatedly reacts to stressful situations, experts speak of irritable bowel syndrome, in which the activity of the intestinal muscles is compassionate. 

Empty Carbohydrates Promote Inflammation

As tasty as a slice of white bread or pasta is, these foods can pose a significant challenge to the intestines. Foods that consist of simple carbohydrates contain a very, very low amount of fiber and are therefore a perfect breeding ground for viruses and bacteria.

These dangerous intestinal bacteria mess up the intestinal flora to a large extent and cause digestive problems. 

Therefore, the intestine should be supported with fiber-rich foods so that the intestinal flora remains in balance.

If the diet consists mainly of fiber-rich and healthy foods, the occasional consumption of simple carbohydrates is not a problem for the intestines – the dose determines the effects here. 

A Little Exercise For The Body And Intestines

Many people work in a sitting position – there is often no movement in their everyday work, and the body is permanently in sleep mode. Due to the lack of exercise, the intestine’s digestion also works slower, and it is more difficult to break down the food ingested.

If you want to support your intestines, you should integrate a digestive walk into your lunch break. The movement stimulates both the organs and the muscles – including those of the intestines.

In addition, a slight movement also acts as a real wake-up call, so the rest of the working day can be managed.

Regular Alcohol Consumption

Whether after-work beer or a glass of red wine for dinner, even small amounts of alcohol hurt the intestinal function and can damage the intestine in many ways, the ingested ethanol reacts directly to the small intestine’s mucous membrane. It causes reddening of the mucous membrane, cell damage, or even minor bleeding.

Alcohol can also lead to these symptoms indirectly, as it promotes inflammatory processes in the body and thus supports viruses and bacteria. 

The stomach, which is in direct cooperation with the intestines, also suffers from the consequences of alcohol consumption. Here too, ethanol damages the gastric mucosa, so absorbed pollutants can no longer be fended off.

Furthermore, frequent consumption of alcoholic beverages increases the risk of colon cancer.

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